Sermon Central
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The Offerings That Speak Series
Contributed by Senior Pastor Ndayiragije-Misigaro Joel on Jan 18, 2023 (message contributor)
Summary: Though many beliefs concur that offering to your local church is to enrich your pastor, that is a lie. Moreover, one needs to look at the benefits of giving in the first place. Why do I give my offerings? What are the benefits? What motivates you to give?
The offerings that speak.
Written by Senior Pastor Ndayiragije Misigaro Joel, January 18, 2023
"Beware lest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.’ You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the power to get wealth, that he may confirm the covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day."
INTRODUCTION.
The "offering" in the believer's life is a very delicate matter to speak of. And learning how to give is Paramount to all believers, as we are reminded that the giver of life. God gave us the best of all when His own Son Jesus sacrificed for our sins on the cross at Calvary.
Though many beliefs concur that offering to your local church is to enrich your pastor, that is a lie. Moreover, one needs to look at the benefits of giving in the first place. Why do I give my offerings? What are the benefits? What motivates you to give?
Many have failed to realize the benefits attached to the proper principles of giving your offerings at your local church. 1 Corinthians 9:13-14 “Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings? In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should make their living with the gospel”
If the reason why you give your offerings, is to a particular person or; then, the start is wrong, if what drives your giving of the offerings is to those who please you, the start is misguided, if for you before you can give the offerings is that you need to be recognized by pastors or anyone else, then you are mistaken.
Offering to God is essential. The first God's instruction was to the children of Israel, in Deuteronomy 12:5–6 “But you shall seek the place that the Lord your God will choose out of all your tribes to put his name and make his habitation there.
There you will go, and there you shall bring your burnt offerings and your sacrifices! your tithes and the contributions that you present, your vow offerings, your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your herd and of your flock. Here, God is telling them to choose a place where to give offerings, tithe, and all other contributions. It is a place where God is, and has designated for you, and the local church is the place where God has chosen for you in the New Testament.
1. THE OFFERINGS SPEAK WHEN YOU HELP THE POOR.
Psalm 41:1–3 Blessed is the one who considers the poor! On the day of trouble, the Lord delivers him; the Lord protects him and keeps him alive; He is a blessed one in the land; You do not give him up to the will of his enemies. The Lord sustains him on his sickbed; in his illness, first, you restore him to full health.
The first is that they tend to the poor, and the blessings attached to this kind of offer are that. It brings healing and deliverance to the giver when he/she is in trouble. So, giving your offerings and helping others who are in need and deserve it, produces more blessings! There is a possibility that you might give the offerings to those who are not in need, but this is not the case, but only for the poor. Don’t forget that you need to hear from God as to where; you need to take your offerings, as in (Deuteronomy 12:5-6) the Spirit of the Lord will show you which poor need those kinds of offerings.
Acts 11:27-29 Now these days’ prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. And one of them named Agabus stood up and foretold to the Spirit that there would be a terrible famine over all the world (this took place in the days of Claudius). So, the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, to send relief to the brothers living in Judea.
2. WHEN YOU HONOR GOD WITH YOUR WEALTH.
Many fail to give the first fruits of their work. Why? Greed and lust are the answer, and not only that, the love of God is lacking from them, but when we learn to give our wealth to God in every first fruit of our produce, work; etc. This kind of offering speaks louder than you can imagine.
Proverbs 3:9–10 Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the first fruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.
The first fruits need to be looked at not only in monetary means but also in material things as well.
